Fluid lift apparatus



Feb. 15, 1966 ADAMS ETAL 3,234,890

FLUID LIFT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 17, 1964 a m 7 imp E 4 3 HM, M N b L A\ I g w w L N ma m E l l f a 2 0 0 C N4. 6 L Ll. H n A 2 4 v w 2 v H u v 0 A s 2 M My Q n fl 6 M 5 w M 0 w 5 M 4 T L I w z w m 1 M W n m w my a) 45 3 L5 w 0 Q 6 w w w w Va. 3 U A [SW C AA A a Q a Feb. 15, 1966 M. A. ADAMS ETAL 3,2

FLUID LIFT APPARATUS 4 Sheets$heet 2 Filed April 17, 1964 Feb. 15, 1966 M. A. ADAMS ETAL 3,234,890

FLUID LIFT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 17, 1964 FIG. 3.

7 3 L R v 5 3 s 2 w Mm 9 ifzfi x 2 5 7 Ill: [all]! w 3 4+ V 9 gm A Q r r g X/ 5 7 5 2 WM z 4 1E J I II I F F: lv 6 7 IN VEN TORS M0251. 4. 404/145,

. Feb. 15, 1966 M. A.-ADAMS ETAL 3,234,890 FLUID LIFT APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed April 17, 1964 s v, m w T e EM m V 3 7 WM 4 m0 v f 4/ i, m M W United States Patent Ofi" 3,234,890 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 Filed Apr. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 360,668 8 Claims. (Cl. 103-=-260) This invention relates to deep well pumps, and more particularly to a deep well pump assembly employing ejector elements and utilizing an operating fluid under pressure to discharge the liquid from the well by means of the ejector units.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved deep well pump assembly which may be employed for extracting oil from a deep well, the assembly being relatively simple in construction, involving no moving parts, and utilizing the well casing to transmit driving fluid to the various operating elements of the essembly.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved deep well pump assembly for extracting liquid from the bottom portion of a deep well, such as an oil well, and employing fluid under pressure as the driving means, the assembly involving relatively inexpensive components, being reliable in operation, and operating in a manner wherein no pressure is applied to the oil formation adjacent thewell, thereby facilitating the efficient production of oil from the formation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved deep well pump assembly which is very economical to operate, which is easy to install in an existing deep well casing, and which may be operated continuous over long periods of time without requiring repair or maintenance work thereon.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved deep well pump system which operates with a minimum of vibration and which utilizes pumping elements of the ejector type, providing smooth and efficient extraction of liquid from the bottom of the associated well and being driven by the injection of pressure fluid from the surface, the system being arranged so that no external supply of pressure fluid is required, the pressure fluid being recirculated through the system during the normal course of ope-ration thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved deep well pump of the ejector type employing pressure fluid as the driving means, the pressure fluid being injected from the surface and circulating through the pump system, the system being provided with means for maintaining the various elements thereof centered and stable, where-by said elements operate efliciently and reliably, and the arrangement of the parts of the system being such that smooth and steady flow of fluid therethrough is obtained.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing respective sections of an improved deep well pump system constructed in accordance with the present invention, the sections being intended to be disposed in axial alignment with each other to show a complete system.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and showing the lower end portion of the pump assembly of FIGURE 1 and being arranged as two sections intended to be placed in axial alignment with each other.

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 8--8 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, 11 designates the casing of a well bore extending a substantial distance downwardly into oil-bearing sand. Obviously, the casing 11 may be of any required depth, and said casing is imperforate except at its lower portion, where it is provided with perforations 12 for admitting fluid from the adjacent formation-s. In shallow wells, the perforations 12 may be provided with protective screening to prevent solid material from the adjacent formations from entering the casing.

A conventional packer 13 is mounted in the lower portion of the casing above the perforations 12, and extending sealingly through the center of the. conventional packer 13 is a nipple member 14 provided below the packer with the intake perforations 15, the bottom end of the nipple 14 being closed off, as shown at 16 in FIG- URE 2.

The packer 13 includes the mating top and bottom rigid flanged sleeve segments 17 and 18 which engage the top and bottom portions of an annular resilient deformable packing element 19, the element 19 sealingly engaging the inside surface of the casing 11 and sealing the top portion of nipple member 14 relative to the lower end portion of the casing, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 2.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the nipple member 14 is provided with the enlarged top coupling sleeve portion 20 having the annular bottom shoulder 21 engaging the top end of the upper packer sleeve 17, the coupling sleeve element 20 defining an annular internal seat 22 on which is engaged the supporting flange 23 of a choke member 24 having a restricted axial bore 25.

Connected to the top end of the member 14 at the coupling sleeve 20 is a conduit section 26 whose lower end is threadedly engaged inside the coupling sleeve 29 and clampingly engages on the supporting flange 23 of the choke member 24, as shown in FIGURE 2. The conduit section 26 contains an ejector pump assembly comprising an elongated upwardly flaring diflusion conduit 27 whose lower end communicates with the central aperture of a transverse nozzle disc 28 which is secured on the top end of a cylindrical chamber 25 said chamber being in turn secured on a transversely extending conduit 39 mounted in the enlarged lower end portion 31 of the conduit 26. The opposite ends of the conduit 36 are exposed to the space in casing 11 surrounding the conduit 26. The transverse conduit 30 is provided at its mid portion with the upwardly converging discharge nozzle 32 whose top orifice is spaced a short distance below the central aperture of the nozzle plate 28, whereby liquid under pressure discharging upwardly through the upwardly converging nozzle 32 enters the small end of the upwardly flaring diflusion conduit 27, and the central aperture of the nozzle plate 28 acts substantially as the neck portion of a venturi, creating a region or" relatively low pressure in said central portion. As shown in FIGURE 3, the nozzle plate 28 and the cylindrical wall 29 are integrally united, and a suction passage, shown at 34, is provided in the cylindrical wall 29 and nozzle plate 28, said suction passage opening at its top end into the central aperture 35 on the nozzle plate. Passage 34 communicates with a depending suction intake conduit 36 provided at the bottom edge of the cylindrical member 29, the suction developed at the aperture 35 being effective to draw fluid upwardly through the choke member 24 from the apertured intake nipple member 14.

The out-er ends of the transversely extending conduit member are preferably provided with protective screen elements 37 to exclude solid material.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the conduit member 26 is supported in centered position in the casing 11 by means of a centering frame assembly 38 comprising a pair of mating opposing collar segments 39, 39 (see FIGURE 6) having semi-cylindrical central portions adapted to em brace the conduit member 26 and having oppositely extending flange portions 40, 40 which are connected to similar flange portions of the mating collar section by fastening bolts 41, 41. The ends of the flanges 40 are engageable with the inside surface of the casing 11, and the collar segments are further provided with pairs of flanges 42, 42 extending perpendicularly to the flanges 49 which are likewise engageable with the inside surface of the casing 11, the flanges 42 and 40 acting to hold conduit 26' in a centered position in the casing.

As is further shown in FIGURE 6, the upwardly flaring diffusing conduit 27 is provided with outwardly projecting longitudinally extending radial flanges 43 which act as stitfeners for the diffusion conduit 27. The top end of the conduit 27 is provided with a plurality of spacer lugs 44- engageable with the inside surface of the top end portion of the boreof conduit 26 and which cooperate with the transversely extending supporting conduit 30 to hold the integrally united assembly comprising conduit 27, nozzle plate 28 and depending sleeve 29 in centered position within conduit 26. A small clearance, shown at 45, of the order of of an inch is provided between the inside bore of conduit 26 and the elements 29, 2$ and 43.

Connected with the top end of conduit 26 is a conduit of substantial length providing a clear passage there through. A series of additional ejector pump assemblies and clear passage connecting conduits 50 may be employed in the casing, in accordance with the amount of lift required, the uppermost ejector pump assembly discharging into the top delivery conduit 51, shown in FIGURE 1.

The uppermost conduit member 51 is sealingly secured in the top end of the casing 11, extending sealingly through the top cover 52 of the casing. The top end of conduit 51 is connected by a horizontal conduit 53 to a depending discharge spout 54 located inside the upper portion of a settling tank 55, and the top portion of tank 55 is connected by a conduit 56 to an oil storage tank 57. As will be readily apparent, the mixture discharge from the spout 54- into the tank 55, upon settling, allows the oil therein to rise to the upper portion of tank 55, whereas the water and sediment remain in the intermediate and lower portions of the tank. When the oil reaches a sufficiently high level, it overflows through the pipe 56 into the oil storage tank 57.

The intermediate portion of tank 55 is connected by a conduit 58 to the intake of a pump 59, and the outlet of said pump is connected by a conduit 60 to the top ortion of casing 11, namely, to a point just below the top cover 52. The intake conduit 58 leading to pump 55! communicates with'tank 55 at a point substantially above the level of the sediment settling in the tank, and at a location to supply the settled water to conduit 58.

As will be readily apparent, the pump 59 places the water from tank 55 under substantial pressure and discharges the water under pressure into the casing 11. The water is forced downwardly through the casing, entering the open ends of the conduit elements 30 in the various ejector pump assemblies provided in the conduit section 26, the water under pressure being discharged upwardly through the upstanding, upwardly converging nozzle element 32 and inducing suction in the central apertured portions 35 of the respective disc members 28, whereby the suction draws fluid upwardly through the depending intake conduit elements 36 of the ejector pump assemblies and drives the fluid upwardly through the upwardly flaring diffusion conduits 27. Due to the gravity head of the downwardly moving water under pressure which is transmitted through the casing 11, the lowermost ejector pump assembly develops a high degree of vacuum in the aperture portion 35 of its disc member 28, since the velocity of the water ejected from its nozzle 32 is at a maximum value, as compared with the water velocities of the ejector pump assemblies located above said lowermost assembly.

Thus, the fluid from the oil-bearing sand around the apertures 12 in the lower end of the casing 11 is drawn into the casing and is drawn through the apertures 15 of the nipple element 14. The fluid is further drawn upwardly through the bore 25 of the choke member 24 and passes into the lowermost pump conduit section 26. Said fluid is then drawn into the intake conduit element 36 of the lowermost ejector pump assembly and is driven up wardly through the diffusion nozzle 27 of said pump assembly by the suction induced by the water under pressure discharging from the upwardly convergent lower nozzle section 32 of the pump assembly. A similar action occurs in the subsequent relay ejector pump assemblies located above the lowermost pump conduit section 26, so that a continuous pumping action is provided which elevates the fluid from the oil-bearing sand and finally discharges it through the uppermost conduit section 51 and the horizontal conduit 53 into the depending spout 54 located in the upper portion of tank 55.

As above described, the oil in the fluid rises to the upper portion of tank- 55 and ultimately flows through the conduit 56 into the storage tank 57, whereas the water and sediment descend in tank 55, the sediment depositing out on the bottom of the tank and the water remaining at a level such that it can enter the water supply conduit SSleading to pump 59.

While a specific embodiment of an improved oil pumping assembly has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with a bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above said intake ortion, a source of fluid under pressure connected to the top end portion of said casing, a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit above said sealing means, an apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member conrmunicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and terminating subjacent the aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said aperture, whereby fluid under pressure discharging through said upwardly convergent nozzle induces suction in said aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it through said diffusion conduit.

2. A well pumping assembly comprising a wall casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an apertured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumpin conduit in the casing at a location above said intake portion, a fluid pump connected to the top end portion of said casing, a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit above said sealing means, a centrally apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and having a discharge orifice locatedsubjacent the central aperture of said disc memher, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said central aperture, whereby fluid under pressure from said fluid pump discharging through said discharge orifice induces suction in said central aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

3. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with a bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above said intake portion, a settling tank, conduit means connecting the top end of said pumping conduit to said settling tank, further conduit means including a fluid pump connecting the intermediate portion of said settling tank to the top end portion of said casing, a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit above said sealing means, an apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member com-municatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and terminating subja-cent the aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said aperture, whereby fluid under pressure from said fluid pump discharging through said upwardly convergent nozzle induces suction in said aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

4. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an apertured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above said intake portion, a settling tank, conduit means connecting the top end of said pumping conduit to said settling tank, further conduit means including a fluid pump connecting the intermediate portion of said settling tank to the top end portion of said casing, a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit above said sealing means, a centrally apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and having a discharge orifice located subjacent the central aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said aperture, whereby fluid under pressure from said fluid pump discharging through said discharge orifice induces suction in said aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said lastnamed conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

5. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an apertured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above and adjacent said intake portion, restricted choke means in the pumping conduit above and adjacent said intake portion, a source of fluid under pressure connected to the top end of said casing, a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit above said restricted choke means, an apertured disc member secured to said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and terminating subjacent the aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said aperture, whereby fluid under pressure discharging through said upwardly convergent nozzle induces suction in said aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diiTusion conduit.

6. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an apertured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above said intake portion, asettling tank, conduit means connecting the top end of said pumping conduit to said settling tank, further conduit means including a fluid pump connecting the intermediate portion of said settling tank to the top end portion of said casing, restricted choke means in the pumping conduit above and adjacent said intake portion, a transverse conduit open at its end extending through said pumping conduit above said restricted choke means, a centrally apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and having a discharge orifice located subjacent the central aperture of said disc memher, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the central aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from a location below said disc member and above said restricted choke means and leading to said central aperture, whereby fluid under pressure from said fluid pump discharging through said discharge orifice induces suction in said central aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

7. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an apertured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above and adjacent said intake portion, a source of fluid under pressure connected to the top end portion of said casing, and a plurality of vertically spaced ejector pump assemblies mounted in said pumping conduit, each ejector pump assembly comprising a transverse conduit open at its ends extending through said pumping conduit, an apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and terminating subjacent the aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below the disc member and leading to said aperture, whereby fluid under pressure discharging through said upwardly convergent nozzle induces suction in said aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

3. A well pumping assembly comprising a well casing having an apertured lower portion, a pumping conduit extending downwardly through said casing and provided with an aper-tured bottom intake portion, means sealing the pumping conduit in the casing at a location above and adjacent said intake portion, restricted choke means in the pumping conduit above and adjacent said intake portion, a settling tank, conduit means connecting the top end of said pumping conduit to said settling tank, further conduit means including a fluid pump connecting the intermediate portion of said settling tank to the top end portion of said casing, and a plurality of vertically spaced ejector pump assemblies mounted in said pumping conduit, each ejector pump assembly comprising a transverse conduit open at its end extending through said pumping conduit, a centrally apertured disc member secured in said pumping conduit above said transverse conduit, an upwardly convergent nozzle member communicatively connected to the intermediate portion of said transverse conduit and having a discharge orifice located subjacent the central aperture of said disc member, an upwardly flaring diffusion conduit mounted in said pumping conduit with its lower end communicatively connected to the central aperture of said disc member, and conduit means in said pumping conduit extending from below said disc member and leading to said central aperture, whereby fluid under pressure from said fluid pump discharging through said discharge orifice induces suction in said central aperture and draws fluid upwardly through said last-named conduit means and forces it upwardly through said diffusion conduit.

Reierences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,483 10/1930 McMahon 103-260 1,791,513 2/1931 Slocum 103-260 1,939,751 12/1933 \Volfi 103-260 2,820,418 1/1958 Sullivan et al. 103260 20 DONLEY I. STOCKING, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WELL PUMPING ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A WELL CASING HAVING AN APERTURED LOWER PORTION, A PUMPING CONDUIT EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THROUGH SAID CASING AND PROVIDED WITH A BOTTOM INTAKE PORTION, MEANS SEALING THE PUMPING CONDUIT IN THE CASING AT A LOCATION ABOVE SAID INTAKE PORTION, A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE CONNECTED TO THE TOP END PORTION OF SAID CASING, A TRANSVERSE CONDUIT OPEN AT ITS ENDS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID PUMPING CONDUIT ABOVE SAID SEALING MEANS, AN APERTURED DISC MEMBER SECURED IN SAID PUMPING CONDUIT ABOVE SAID TRANSVERSE CONDUIT, AN UPWARDLY CONVERGENT NOZZLE MEMBER COMMUNICATIVELY CONNECTED TO THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF SAID TRANSVERSE 